The Alouettes of… Tiohtià:ke | National Day of Truth and Reconciliation

During the game on September 28, the Montreal Alouettes will become the Tiohtià:ke Alouettes.

The word in the Kanien’kéha (or Mohawk) language means where boats and rivers meet and designates the territory where Montreal is located today.

As part of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Alouettes commissioned Kahnawake artist Finnley Montour to design a special logo that will be on the team’s players’ helmets Saturday during the game against the Argonauts in Toronto.

Finnley Montour had the chance to explain the meaning of his logo to four players from the organization on Monday, who had travelled to Kahnawake for a game of flag football with dozens of children from the community.

The artist saw his design for the first time with the dream catcher and the three feathers affixed to the helmet.

“It’s an incredible honor that my design was chosen,” she said naturally. “I’m very proud of it.”

As she explained the meaning of the logo, she kept turning the helmet over to look at the inscription on the back: Tiohtià:ke.

To see our language on this helmet is fantastic.explained Finnley Montour.

Tyrice Beverette, Dylan Wynn, Alexandre Gagné and Jeshrun Antwi listened attentively. Wynn, a native of California, seemed particularly interested in learning more about the community’s history.

This same Wynn was, a few minutes later, disarmingly natural with the children gathered on the grounds of the Kahnawake Sports Complex to perfect their skills. flag football.

For linebacker Alexandre Gagné, these meetings with people from the community remind him how privileged he is to be a professional athlete.

It’s always special, because it’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind and say, “Ah, I have to go practice,” and sometimes I’m less tempted, admits Alexandre Gagné. But when you get to events like this, and you see how impressed the kids are, you say, “It’s true that it’s cool than what we do in life.”

The linebacker understood the importance of the Tiohtià:ke inscription on the helmet for reconciliation, as well as the presence of Alouettes players in the community.

It’s awesome to have a piece of their history on our helmet, it’s really special. I’m happy to represent them in this way.

Harry Rice, a former member of the band council, is one of the witnesses to this complicity that is being built between the professional team and the residents of Kahnawake.

He was on the edge of the field last year and was there again this year. He highlighted how It’s important for communication to maintain the relationship we develop with the Alouettes. And the kids love the event.

It means a lot to the communityadded Harry Rice.

My father was a residential school survivor and young people are learning more and more about their past, about what happened. Last year, it was incredible to see the Alouettes wearing the orange jersey at practice before the game. It means a lot.

The Sparrows will once again wear an orange uniform before the game on September 28.

However, there was a missed opportunity between the Alouettes and the community. After winning the Grey Cup, scheduling conflicts prevented the team from bringing the trophy to Kahnawake.

It would be nice if the team won the Grey Cup again this year, and they are in a good position to do so.said Harry Rice with a laugh, adding that the entire community would be ready to welcome the Alouettes and the precious trophy.